Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityCloseMenu buttonMenu and Search buttonOpenCloseNewsVideoEventsresourcesnewsletterExpertsProgramsYouTubeFacebookTwitterGoogle PlusAsk an ExpertSee how spartans make a difference in Michigan. MI Spartan Impact

Well-carried out on-farm research can help farmers determine if added inputs or changed practices really do provide a positive return on their farm.

High corn and soybean values enhance farmers’ desires to
achieve maximize economic yields. Producers are faced with decisions about
whether to add additional inputs or chance production practices. These might
include foliar fungicides, specialized fertilizers, advanced genetic traits,
seed treatments, tillage systems, planting methods, seeding rates, the use of
cover crops, addition of irrigation, adoption of new technology, utilization of
manure or countless other choices. Each one is promoted to add yield and gain
net profit. The question is, “Do they really accomplish this?” The product or
practice might work well for a researcher or another farmer, but it might not
be a good choice for everyone. Well-designed, on-farm research projects can
help determine the answer for a producer’s specific situation and conditions.

Valuable on-farm research projects start with a well-designed
plan or protocol. It is not worthwhile comparing the practice or product used
in one field to a field without it or even in a single, side-by-side evaluation
in the same field. The results can be totally misleading. Variable conditions
exist even in the most uniform fields. Tile lines, soil types, compaction,
fertility and pest pressure are just a few variables that may over power the
treatment and give false conclusions. To help insure that the comparison
results are indeed due to the practice or product and not some other variable,
multiple replications of the treatment need to be conducted.

A good rule of thumb in conducting on-farm research is to
keep it simple. Test just one input or practice at a time. Also, take time to
select a site that is as uniform as possible. Try to have at least four
replications of each treatment. On-farm research gains its power in
replication. More comparisons increase the confidence in the results. The
conclusions are further validated if similar results occur over several years
and over numerous sites.

Assistance in conducting an on-farm research comparison can
come from your agribusiness agronomist or MSU
Extension educator. They may have protocols already developed for you to
utilize. They may also provide assistance in the field in setting up the trial
and obtaining data at harvest. If the trial is set up properly, they can help
run the statistical analysis with the results. The Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee
is especially interested in working with soybean producers with on-farm
research trials. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), MSU Senior
Extension educator, coordinates the SMaRT soybean trials statewide. He can be
contacted at 269-673-0370.

November 14, 2016 | Jim Isleib | If soil calcium and magnesium levels are adequate and soil pH is acceptable, variations in the calcium-to-magnesium ratio between 2 and 8 have been shown to have no influence on crop yield.